Yardstick and other considerations

[Lt_Jaeger]

Hi, 

I started you campaign and been blown away by the immersion of it. The procedures, checklist, admin of airspace, comms combined with flying in VR........just great. So, great in fact that I got lost twice and had to run mission 1 (1vs1) three times before I ended up in the place I supposed to be.

 

That said, during the G warmup I got blind on Gator and I was wishing for a set yard stick to find him again. Same is true for the setup, I'm just guessing the 1,5mile seperation. Would just feel right to be on the correct number.

 

I don't know if it is even possible to add in dcs SP Missions, but I would love if you could consider it for an update. 

 

OH, one more thing.... Again not sure if possible. Maybe for one of the next campaign..... Is it possible to have an voice over to announce a heading change by the ai? Love to do the transit in close formation with the lead and the sudden changes are sometimes kind of problematic. A short check right /left shortly before turning might help and adds to the immersion (at least for me) 

 

 

Edited January 30, 2021 by Lt_Jaeger

[Reflected]

Hi Jaeger,

 

Thanks for the feedback! The 1.5 miles doesn't have to be exactly that. If you like, you can pause the game, and measure using the F10 map view and the ruler. Then you memorize the picture for next time. In real life nobody told you when you were at exactly 1.5 miles either.  Also, you're supposed to maintain sight of your lead at all times. So when you separate, don't use too much bank. Then, make the first break of the g-warm maneuver toward your lead, like Bio also mentions. In VR I highly recommend using the 'dot only' label option. I use it as well on my laptop.

 

I know the AI can be a terrible lead with their crazy turns, but adding heading change calls would not be realistic either. Look at your HSD and always have the next waypoint tuned in. As you approach within 2-3 miles, open the formation a little and anticipate the turn.

 

Even if I added turn calls, how far before the waypoint does the lead turn? It depends on the angle and speed, and it certainly changes with every AI update in DCS. It would be a proverbial rabbit hole to add these, requiring constant checking and updating with each patch

 

PS: I'm now working on an update that will make the player immortal but still detect damage, so you can fly back to Nellis whatever the outcome is.

[Lt_Jaeger]

Thank you for your answer.

 

I try all to stay out of F10 map and not to use any dots. I find it most important to keep the immersion, well knowing that vr is in some regards "harder" than real life. 

The spotting is what's hardest in the first mission, most probably in all of them. 

 

I did the first one again and fumbled a little with the settings (setting Gator to ace level, because the "normal" gator was a little less than I expected, same goes for mission 2, the F-16. I know it will get harder, though. Couldn't get the Tacan do yardstick, which would be mood anyway since I can't save the mission. 

 

Anyhow, concerning the turn calls, I did it the way you discribe it too and it works OK, guess it's really not worth the hustle to set up. 

 

But it wouldn't be me if I would not come up with another question:

 

Is there a way to select / change the difficulty level? Can something like that programed to be set e.g. via the Radio menu (F10)? 

 

Would like to re-fly the missions with adaptable level (up and down) 

 

Again, I think you did a superb work. I'm really enjoying the departure and recovery adhering to the procedures, which is so great and immersing that I actually don't need the fighting part

.  Also love Jesters fixation on check lists. 

[Reflected]

The higher you set the AI they more they start to cheat and that’s frustrating. So I set their level carefully based on a lot of testing and tester feedback so that they’re not too easy nor too hard. So that it’s challenging to win but not impossible. 
 

in event 1 I set gator quite low, though, especially during the first engagement in order to ‘warm up’ the player. Of course, you’re free to change them in the mission editor. As of mission 4-5 I’m sure you won’t want to set them higher though  

[draconus]

Since we know the Gator's route and his altitude and we have at least raw idea where he should be we can get him on a radar.